DUBAI: Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to deepen economic and trade cooperation, with both sides committing to finalise negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), Tanzanian officials said.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan held bilateral talks with UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on the sidelines of the World Government Summit (WGS) 2026, which concluded on Wednesday in Dubai.
According to a statement issued by Tanzania’s Directorate of Presidential Communications, the two leaders underscored the importance of expanding economic collaboration, particularly in trade, investment and the implementation of strategic development projects aimed at supporting sustainable growth.
The discussions included proposals to strengthen air connectivity between the two countries. Among the options considered was the possible introduction of additional Emirates Airline routes, including a Kilimanjaro–Zanzibar service, which officials said could boost tourism, trade and investment flows.
Trade between Tanzania and the UAE has expanded significantly in recent years, rising from about $987.31 million in 2018 to $2.1 billion in 2024. The growth has positioned Tanzania as the UAE’s fourth-largest trading partner in Africa, the statement said.
President Samia also took part in a panel discussion at the summit, where she highlighted Tanzania’s ongoing investments in infrastructure as a foundation for economic growth and regional integration.
She said the government is committed to connecting major ports — including Dar es Salaam — through an integrated modern railway network, aimed at improving logistics efficiency and attracting investment.
The President noted that work is progressing to interconnect the ports of Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara through modern transport infrastructure, including railways, to create a more enabling environment for investors.
She added that plans are also in place to link inland ports on Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa, facilitating smoother movement of goods and strengthening economic integration within East Africa and neighbouring regions.
“We are trying to connect these ports to other parts of Tanzania by railway so that goods arriving in Tanzania can be transported more efficiently to neighbouring countries,” President Samia said.
She reiterated the government’s commitment to major transport projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which is planned to span about 2,100 kilometres from Dar es Salaam to Burundi, with future extensions envisaged towards the Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Samia said the successful rollout of large-scale infrastructure projects has been supported by financing from development partners including the African Development Bank Group, the World Bank, the OPEC Fund, the Abu Dhabi Fund and the Abu Dhabi Export Fund (ADEX).
On policy reforms, she said Tanzania has implemented changes to laws and regulations to improve predictability and strengthen the investment climate.
“In principle, the basic infrastructure for investment growth is already in place in Tanzania,” she said.
